Tag Archive: algebra

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a Mathematician who lived around the 780′s and has made great contributions to the world of mathematics and science. Noteworthy, though, is his development of the algorithms in the same field of mathematics. Since, in computer science, these form the basis for primary calculations, he has therefore been termed as the father of computer science. His discovery of this kind of mathematics has been used in many computer science calculations and discoveries.

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a member of the house of Wisdom in Baghdad where he contributed most of his findings and research. The house of wisdom was merely a center where research into scientific issues was done. It also conducted some teaching activities there. Interestingly, this man has also been linked to the success of modern day algebra. He based most of his works on findings that had been written by scientists and mathematicians who lived before him. But the constant studies and discoveries in mathematics have been used as the foundation for many scientific discoveries.

In an attempt to take his mathematical skills further, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi also made some calculations about the position of the moon. As if that was not enough, his calculations even went as far as including the position of the sun and planets. The calendars and the features of it that portray the accuracy of counting days in a year are also attributed to him and his calculations. Many of the works he did in this area were later picked up by scientists who lived after him for further development and refinement.

It can be noted from the foregoing that this scientist had done a lot of work in terms of coming up with important astrological findings and calculations that proved to be of great importance in the years that followed. But one of the most interesting features about his work is his introduction of the roman numerals in English. To date, this system is still in place and working as he had envisioned it.

Zero is synonym for the word none, meaning nothing, but zero plays a very important factor in our daily life and has great importance in mathematics and other subjects. The origin or invention of zero seems a bit mysterious as there are many claims and stories behind its first existence or invention and to properly unwind this sotry you need to go all the way back to the 3rd century BC.

Zero may have no value when you see it as a single character, but when it is added to other characters, it can totally change the meaning and worth.

Let’s go and take a sneak peak into history for the origin of zero:

Who Invented Zero

Arabs: They were not the inventor but they brought zero with them to Europe.

Abu Abdullah Mohammad Ibn Musa al Khwarizmi , the great mathematician, astronomer, geographer and influential in the formation of algebra and who was borned in 780 (died in 850 CE) had something meangingful to share regardind the concept of zero.

Al Khwarizmi explained the use of zero. He introduced the Indian system of numerals, commonly known as the Arabic numeral system, which through his work was introduced first to the Arabs through translations and later introduced to the west.

Al Khwarizmi one book which was later translated in early twelth century into Latin was basically focusing on arithematics and was called “Kitab al Jam’a wal – Tafreeq bil Hisaab al Hindi” (“The Book of Addition and Subtraction According to the Hindu Calculation”).

Al Khwarizmi was not the inventor of zero but rather he promote and explained zero.

Romans and Greeks: They were using ABACUS for all there calculations and therefore did not rely on or have a need for zero.

European: The people of Europe in those very early days were literally in the Dark Ages in many ways. They only came to know about the concept of zero when they performed trade with the Arab in 8th Century. The Arabs were, as we mentioned above, guided and trained by Al Khwarizmi.

[box type="info"] Now we are left with two civilizations whom a lot of historians are claiming to be the founder of zero. Some experts also believe that zero was develop in both places at the same time but the symbols they employed were different.[/box]

Mayan: Mayan civilization whose existence was in Central America in the 3rd Centruy BC have claimed to be using Dot as a symbol for the modern zero.

Indian: Indian mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata, around 9th century C.E is considered to be the founder of Zero. There is no doubt from Al Khwarizmi work and other Arabs scholars that this area was quite rich in knowledge. Inf act “Sindh” which is a province of Pakistan, was considered “Bab-Ul-Islam” and people from Arab use to come to this region to gain knowledge. Pakistan and India were one country before 1947.

Also some historian believe that the word “Shunya” (Which is an Indian word for zero) was translated in Arabic as “Sifr” meaning nothing. The arabic word “Sifr” was later translated to “Zephyr” in Latin and then it was evolved to the recent word “Zero”.